The National Disaster Management Authority has sent its 19th assistance cargo, which includes 17 tonnes of basic goods such food, clothing, milk, tents, and hygiene kits, to Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

On the orders of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the humanitarian supplies—which included sleeping bags, family packs, rice buckets, powdered milk, canned food, and medical support kits—were sent to Damascus, Syria, via a chartered aeroplane from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.

On the Prime Minister’s orders, a special account called the “Prime Minister’s relief fund for Gaza and Lebanon” was created to gather donations from the general population in order to support their kin in Gaza and Lebanon who are experiencing war-related problems.

Notwithstanding the devastating effects of rapid glacial melt brought on by climate change, the Asian Development Bank has introduced a new regional initiative called “glaciers to farms” that would support sustainable water usage and food security in Pakistan, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia.

The bank will carry out risk assessments of glacial melt in Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan with assistance from the Green Climate Fund’s Project preparation facility. This will serve as the scientific and technical foundation for the program that converts glaciers into farms.

Since the region’s temperatures are expected to climb by as much as 6 degrees Celsius by 2100, the loss of glacier mass puts the delicate ecosystem balance in jeopardy, endangering the water supply for hydropower and agriculture as well as the livelihoods of over 380 million people.

Up to 3.5 billion dollars from ADB, GCF, governments, development partners, and the private sector are anticipated to be mobilised for Glaciers to Farms, contingent upon board approvals from participating institutions.

The program will provide assistance to populations at risk from glacial melt, especially in mountainous areas, in addition to investments in agriculture and water.

According to the Punjab Health Department, 61 new dengue fever cases were registered in the province during the past 24 hours.

Rawalpindi had 48 cases, more than any other district. Lahore had four, Attock had three, and Chakwal and Faisalabad each had two. Sahiwal and Sialkot both reported a single case.

Punjab now has 7,395 cases for 2024, including 494 new cases in the last week alone. The Health Department has assured the public that hospitals are ready to handle the influx of patients and are adequately stocked with the drugs they need.